I'm a nurse. Ask me anything about nursing

[Philipkee]

Thank you very much for answering my questions, you're really a great help!!! People always said to ask someone in the field where you want to work to find out what the job is really like. Now that I did, I'm even more sure of what I want. Thank you! :)

 

Unrelated, but I've been watching documentaries on weird cases in the ER (in western countries, of course) and it's really entertaining HAHA!

 

(it's these series)

 

Which brings me to ask, what is the weirdest case you've ever seen in the ER? (Considering you mentioned that that is the department you're working at)

No weird cases. I mean yea there are unique cases but a bit risky to put this on the net since such cases tend to be unique and skarli a reader here recognise it.

 

Absolute weirdest are actually ghost stories. I remember one case someone said was possessed. He appeared mentally unsound. We got a healthcare attendant who claimed to have the "third eye". He came in and looked at the patient and said he was faking. We carried on basic management and the patient suddenly became OK again. But he was mentally unsound for a long time even before he came to hospital. So what really happened to him initially? No idea. But it was first time we called someone who claimed to have the "third eye" to look at a patient specifically for this and he was correct.

[Kusje]

Not really fair to say lower standards. Your MIL? Probably passed out when nursing was at certificate level. The first batch of diploma in nursing was I think 1994 or so only.

If they studied less but are eligible to do the same things and possess the same license, then it is lower standards la.

[Philipkee]

If they studied less but are eligible to do the same things and possess the same license, then it is lower standards la.

Not really. Cos last time nurses don't do ecg (unless specially trained), don't do venepuncture or blood taking (unless specially trained) and so on.

 

You can say it was lower standard then, just don't let them hear it. Cos many of them are still working. Some are super senior but only with certificate of nursing.

 

Auscultation wasn't really taught in nursing as a skill (diploma level ) until relatively recently. I use the term relatively recently cos I passed out in 1998 (gasp that's twenty years in a blink ). I can only say 17 years of experience cos I was an arty man in NS and half a year off for backpacking.

Edited January 19, 2018 by Philipkee

[Angel_]

Nope. Sometimes the doctor borrow ours.

 

And yes, you can hear the sounds but must be good quality ones and know how to use it. Degree and advanced diploma you learn how to use it for more purposes than blood pressure though I believe this is also taught at diploma level now.

The reason why you don't see us carrying it as routine or using it as routine is cos it's not a habit. But yes, we are trained to use them.

Ohhhhh, the thought of sharing stethoscopes seem pretty unhygienic though HAHAHAH!!! Can we like buy our own or something? Hehe.

No weird cases. I mean yea there are unique cases but a bit risky to put this on the net since such cases tend to be unique and skarli a reader here recognise it.

 

Absolute weirdest are actually ghost stories. I remember one case someone said was possessed. He appeared mentally unsound. We got a healthcare attendant who claimed to have the "third eye". He came in and looked at the patient and said he was faking. We carried on basic management and the patient suddenly became OK again. But he was mentally unsound for a long time even before he came to hospital. So what really happened to him initially? No idea. But it was first time we called someone who claimed to have the "third eye" to look at a patient specifically for this and he was correct.

Wow, that's interestingly eerie and strange.

[RadX]

Spidey senses

[Philipkee]

@Angel_ you can buy on your own definitely but maybe only once you go for your advanced dip. Cos it's a requirement then. For two reasons

 

1) if you don't use it often, it goes missing pretty fast so at least buy in when you are studying so at least you have it during your exams (it can go missing after that )

 

2) if everyone buys it, they can organise a group buy which makes it cheaper.

[KeerthanaMayalaggan]

Hi, I am Keerthana, I am going to graduate from my diploma in biomedical science from Republic polytechnic in about 2 months. Throughout my poly life i have found that my interest has shifted to nursing sector from the patient care module i took in school. However, i am clueless on what to do next in order to enter nursing field as i do not want to do another diploma in nursing for another 3 years... is there any other alternative for me? Thank you.

[Kusje]

Hi, I am Keerthana, I am going to graduate from my diploma in biomedical science from Republic polytechnic in about 2 months. Throughout my poly life i have found that my interest has shifted to nursing sector from the patient care module i took in school. However, i am clueless on what to do next in order to enter nursing field as i do not want to do another diploma in nursing for another 3 years... is there any other alternative for me? Thank you.

 

Not a nurse but I reckon the answer is going to be no.

[RadX]

Hi, I am Keerthana, I am going to graduate from my diploma in biomedical science from Republic polytechnic in about 2 months. Throughout my poly life i have found that my interest has shifted to nursing sector from the patient care module i took in school. However, i am clueless on what to do next in order to enter nursing field as i do not want to do another diploma in nursing for another 3 years... is there any other alternative for me? Thank you.

 

see your GPA and apply to the Alice Loo Ctr for Nursing studies OR

 

Bachelor of Science (Nursing)

MOHH welcomes such aspiring applicants into the profession and they do offer scholarships.

[KeerthanaMayalaggan]

see your GPA and apply to the Alice Loo Ctr for Nursing studies OR

 

Bachelor of Science (Nursing)

MOHH welcomes such aspiring applicants into the profession and they do offer scholarships.

Thank you

[VQxx]

Hello @philipkee . I am a JC student currently waiting for my alevel results. Can you compare your experiences of working in the SCDF and in the hospital setting as a nurse? (In terms of working hours, work culture, the kind of traits that will enable you to perform well, pay, career progression and also potential to switch to another career... Or any other thing that I might missed out but is crucial) I have been wary of entering the nursing profession after hearing the politics and foreigner VS local tensions (is this a legit thing?). Also i read that you need to have good eyesight to be a paramedic w the SCDF. What do they mean by "good eyesight"? Thank you!

[Lala81]

is there a diff between a nurse steth and doc steth?

 

I bought a so called nurse seth from amazon for about 5 bucks delivered for my daughter to play 

 

the plastic toy ones cannot hear anything

 

The quality makes a difference. 

 

But that being said, I bought one from TB for 5 dollars for my daughter which is way better than any cheap one i've used before.

U got the link for the amazon one?

[Ender]

The quality makes a difference. 

 

But that being said, I bought one from TB for 5 dollars for my daughter which is way better than any cheap one i've used before.

U got the link for the amazon one?

I heard last time in china, the doc use red string to tie around the patience wrist can pick up the heart rate from the string liao.

[Lala81]

I heard last time in china, the doc use red string to tie around the patience wrist can pick up the heart rate from the string liao.

 

There used to be a lot of rubbish before evidence based medicine came along.

 

Like blood letting was used to treat all kinds of things, TB etc.

 

Even with EBM, we are ultimately still humans. So we are still subject to a lot of human biases in the way we practice and diagnose.

And sometimes the patient also don't want to hear the evidence or the hard truth, so what we do is tailored for that as well especially in a general family practice.

 

You can have a doctor using voodoo magic to treat his patients, but his patients will swear by the highest power that he's Hua Tuo reincarnated 

[Lala81]

That's why ultimately a lot of TCM is still BS, cos it doesn't have any scientific rigor to it.

 

At the very very best, what they do is show in-vitro or in rats demonstration of principle. But in terms of what works in humans or not, nope zilch zero.

 

in western medicine, at least thousands of compounds or drugs have been thrown away along the road side cos these good in theory compounds, show jackshit in terms of results in real life.

[Philipkee]

Hello @philipkee . I am a JC student currently waiting for my alevel results. Can you compare your experiences of working in the SCDF and in the hospital setting as a nurse? (In terms of working hours, work culture, the kind of traits that will enable you to perform well, pay, career progression and also potential to switch to another career... Or any other thing that I might missed out but is crucial) I have been wary of entering the nursing profession after hearing the politics and foreigner VS local tensions (is this a legit thing?). Also i read that you need to have good eyesight to be a paramedic w the SCDF. What do they mean by "good eyesight"? Thank you!

Hi. A few points.

 

1) Please don't misunderstand. From what I know, SCDF does not hire nurses. I am there but I am seconded from MOH. It's different. And I am specialised in a specific area so it's not like you can apply there as a freshee nurse.

 

2) Hours are different in different areas. I suggest you start off with shift duty cos office hours work tend to be places you cannot learn much like clinics. OPERATING THEATRE is also office hours but you can learn a lot but it's very specialised so maybe not a good choice for a new passed out nurse (but some joined so it's not like definitely bad).

 

3) Not sure about good eyesight requirement for paramedics but yeah, with patient care you cannot afford to be blind in one eye. But wearing specs have never stopped anyone from joining. But I am guessing that very poor eyesight will mean lower pes status (like army) which affects your deployment as paramedics cos what I know is they must pass ippt also.

 

4) Foreigner and local tensions? Depends on where you work. Sometimes it's OK. Sometimes they gang up. Just make friends with all and don't form cliques and prejudices and you should be OK.

 

5) Career progression and pay is how you make it. Pay is slightly less than 6k after all allowances and after 17 years in the profession. A lot? Little? Up to you to think. And yes I have a degree. Rank wise not so important cos at the end of the day, nursing is about working on the ground.

[Kusje]

The quality makes a difference.

 

But that being said, I bought one from TB for 5 dollars for my daughter which is way better than any cheap one i've used before.

U got the link for the amazon one?

This is the one... 5 USD with a further 20% off now. Sadly with free shipping gone, not sure if it is still worth it for you to get one.

 

MABIS Spectrum Series Lightweight Nurse Stethoscope for Examining Kids and Adults, Orange, 30 Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CCIN90/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fkeDAbCNP3DNY

Hi. A few points.

 

1) Please don't misunderstand. From what I know, SCDF does not hire nurses. I am there but I am seconded from MOH. It's different. And I am specialised in a specific area so it's not like you can apply there as a freshee nurse.

 

2) Hours are different in different areas. I suggest you start off with shift duty cos office hours work tend to be places you cannot learn much like clinics. OPERATING THEATRE is also office hours but you can learn a lot but it's very specialised so maybe not a good choice for a new passed out nurse (but some joined so it's not like definitely bad).

 

3) Not sure about good eyesight requirement for paramedics but yeah, with patient care you cannot afford to be blind in one eye. But wearing specs have never stopped anyone from joining. But I am guessing that very poor eyesight will mean lower pes status (like army) which affects your deployment as paramedics cos what I know is they must pass ippt also.

 

4) Foreigner and local tensions? Depends on where you work. Sometimes it's OK. Sometimes they gang up. Just make friends with all and don't form cliques and prejudices and you should be OK.

 

5) Career progression and pay is how you make it. Pay is slightly less than 6k after all allowances and after 17 years in the profession. A lot? Little? Up to you to think. And yes I have a degree. Rank wise not so important cos at the end of the day, nursing is about working on the ground.

Can one get 6k without a degree? Do people with and without degrees get treated differently?

 

Think I shared that my MIL was a nurse before. Her pre-retirement salary should be less than 3k working as a supervisor in a home (non shift work).

Edited February 2, 2018 by Kusje

[Jamesc]

That's why ultimately a lot of TCM is still BS, cos it doesn't have any scientific rigor to it.

 

At the very very best, what they do is show in-vitro or in rats demonstration of principle. But in terms of what works in humans or not, nope zilch zero.

 

in western medicine, at least thousands of compounds or drugs have been thrown away along the road side cos these good in theory compounds, show jackshit in terms of results in real life.

 

What you mean TCM is BS.

 

If you believe in EBM here is the proof.

 

Qigong make you strong.

 

I would like to see a western doctor do this.

 

Its actually western medicine that is BS.

 

Western medicine cannot even cure the common cold.

 

Western medicine is all about chop this off and chop that off.

 

Western doctors are savages.